on reactions from people on the streets and in the parking lots, we think

it will be every bit as popular as its big-brother. We like the rugged,

no-nonsense look, and it seems a lot of other people do, too.

Like most pickups, the Dakota offers buyers a lot of choices. In addition

to the three engine selections, there are: five-speed manual or four-speed

automatic transmissions, regular cab and the extended Club Cab, cargo box

lengths of either 6.5 or eight feet, two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive

and roughly 40 or so options (some of which, admittedly, can't be ordered

together). There are three trim levels: Base, without much glitz; Sport,

with the body-color look; and SLT, fancier, and with more chrome.

Our subject vehicle was a very nicely equipped--make that loaded--Club

Cab 4X4 Sport with the 5.2-liter V8 and automatic transmission. The base

price on the window sticker was $19,690, but by the time the good people

on the assembly line were finished welding and bolting this particular

Dakota together, the bottom line read $26,753, and that included the "Dodge

Discount" of $1000. There were still a few more things that could

have been added, but not much we needed; check the specification box for

details.

As you would expect, the performance and pulling power of the V8 is

several steps above that of most competing V6 engines. The Dakota isn't

particularly fast (even empty, ours weighed over two tons), but it's capable

of dealing with serious loads, whether those loads are in the cargo bed,

hooked onto the trailer hitch, or both.

We also noticed a pleasantly high level of quality. Things were screwed

together tight and snug, the doors and tailgate shut with an authoritative

slam and nothing creaked or rattled. That couldn't really be said for the

previous Dakota.